FILE:  JB

Cf:  JBA, JBD

Cf:  JBE, JD

ATTENDANCE

In accordance with state law, it is the responsibility of every parent, tutor, or legal guardian of a child between the ages of seven (7) and eighteen (18) to enforce the attendance of his or her child at the school to which the student is assigned.  Once a student arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day.

A student is considered to be in attendance when he or she is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and is under the supervision of authorized personnel.  This definition for attendance would extend to students who are homebound, assigned to and participating in drug rehabilitation programs that contain a state-approved education component, participating in school-authorized field trips or other school-approved activities, or taking a state-approved virtual course.

• Half-day attendance - A student is considered to be in attendance for one-half day when he or she (1) is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and (2) is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 25% but not more than half (26%-50%) of the student's instructional day.
  
  

• Whole-day attendance - A student is considered to be in attendance for a whole day when he or she (1) is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity and (2) is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 50% (51%-100%) of the student's instructional day.

Compulsory attendance laws and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) regulations require high school students to be in attendance a minimum of 30,060 minutes (equivalent to 83.5 six hour school days) per semester or 60,120 minutes (equivalent to 167 six-hour school days) a school year for schools not operating on a semester basis in order to be eligible to receive credit for courses taken. Elementary students shall be in attendance a minimum of 60,120 minutes (equivalent to 167 six-hour days) a school year in order to be eligible to receive credit for courses taken. 

Students in danger of failing due to excessive absences may be allowed to make up missed time in class sessions held outside the regular class time.  The make up sessions must be completed before the end of the current semester and all other applicable policies must be met.

ATTENDANCE FOR REMOTE OR HYBRID INSTRUCTION

During remote or hybrid instruction, students are considered to be in attendance when attendance is checked and recorded on each school day at the beginning of each class period in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:232, and Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, and one of the following requirements is met:

• The student logs into synchronous online instruction at the designated time for the course in which the student is enrolled.
  
  

• Evidence exists that the student accessed a planned asynchronous instructional activity.

Remote instruction is an educational model in which the student and educator are not physically present in a traditional classroom environment where instruction may be facilitated by the use of computers, technology, and the internet.

Hybrid instruction is instruction provided via a combination of face-to-face and remote models.

JURISDICTION

All students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school during normal school hours, from the time the student arrives at school each day until he or she leaves the school campus in the afternoon.  In case a student rides a bus, he or she shall be under the jurisdiction of the school from the time he or she boards the bus until the student exits the bus in the afternoon.  Students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school while attending any school sponsored activity either at school or away from school.  This shall apply to all students, including athletic teams, pep clubs, band and other student organizations.  In disciplinary matters, the School Board’s authority may extend beyond the limits set forth above, in accordance with state law.

ATTENDANCE OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR STUDENTS

With the incorporation of the seven (7) period day and the 4 X 4 block scheduling, additional attendance guidelines shall be followed:

1. Junior and senior students who have chosen a career path shall be allowed to attend classes at a vocational school after completing three (3) periods of instruction in required course work at the local school for a seven (7) period day or two (2) blocks for 4 X 4 day.
   
   

2. Any senior who shall complete the course work required for graduation before the end of the regular school day may leave the campus after being in attendance at the school for four (4) class periods of a seven (7) period day or two (2) blocks of a 4 X 4 day.  Any senior who leaves school early shall have a letter of permission signed by his/her parent/guardian on file in the principal's office.  The student must have transportation and shall be required to leave the campus immediately after the completion of his/her last class.
   
   

3. No senior shall be allowed to leave and return to campus due to a problem with scheduling of that student's required courses.  Should this situation occur, the principal/school counselor shall assign the student to elective classes for the class periods between the required courses.  The student must remain at school until the last required course is completed.

Exceptions to these guidelines due to special circumstances shall be dealt with by the school administrator on an individual basis. 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:226, 17:227, 17:232, 17:233

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, §713, and §1103, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 5-2-00, 8-5-08, 12-2-08, 11-02-10, 8-2-11, 7-2-13,  8-8-23

East Feliciana Parish School Board